New Contemporary Romance Books Publishing in August
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I think we should start celebrating Book Birthday’s with cake. I think it is what the books would want…right? Well, there is a lot to celebrate this month…because there are some amazing new books arriving! I am changing things up AGAIN this month. Instead of lumping all of the new book releases into one post…I am going to divide things up a little by genre. Let’s be honest…if a blog post is super long and full of lots of blabbing…no one is going to read it. SO, short and sweet it will be! I am starting the month off with my current obsession…Contemporary Romance. Swoon. I have narrowed it down to 6. So, without further ado…here are the New Contemporary Romance books that are publishing in August that I am MOST looking forward to. Let’s chat!
The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava
I am such a sucker for a debut novel! The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava publishes on August 6th and it sounds like it is going to be such an incredible book! I was immediately drawn to the cover and was so excited to learn that this is a Native American RomCom. I honestly can’t think of any others…and it is always so exciting to see more Own Voices books out there. Definitely plan to pick this one up. Check out a synopsis below to see what it is all about! Doesn’t it sound good?!?
Goodreads Synopsis
A Chickasaw woman who can’t catch a break serves up a little white lie that snowballs into much more in this witty and irresistible rom-com by debut author Danica Nava.
Ember Lee Cardinal has not always been a liar—well, not for anything that counted at least. But her job search is not going well and when her resumé is rejected for the thirty-seventh time, she takes matters into her own hands. She gets “creative” listing her qualifications and answers the ethnicity question on applications with a lie—a half-lie, technically. No one wanted Native American Ember, but white Ember has just landed her dream accounting job on Park Avenue (Oklahoma City, that is).
Accountant Ember thrives in corporate life—and her love life seems to be looking up too: Danuwoa Colson, the IT guy and fellow Native who caught her eye on her first day, seems to actually be interested in her too. Despite her unease over the no-dating policy at work, they start to see each other secretly, which somehow makes it even hotter? But when they’re caught in a compromising position on a work trip, a scheming colleague blackmails Ember, threatening to expose their relationship. As the manipulation continues to grow, so do Ember’s lies. She must make the hard decision to either stay silent or finally tell the truth, which could cost her everything.
The Enemy by Sarah Adams
Next up we have The Enemy by Sarah Adams! This is a brand new expanded edition of The Enemy, which is the second book in the It Happened in Charleston series. I actually haven’t read either of them yet but have added BOTH to my TBR. I absolutely ADORE Sarah Adams. Her books are perfection. The perfect combination of humor, romance, adorable characters, and witty banter. If you are a Contemporary Romance fan please check out her books. So good! The Enemy publishes on August 6th.
Goodreads Synopsis
Enemies should never get a second chance. But this one might…
It’s been twelve years since June Broaden has seen her high school enemy (and secret crush), Ryan Henderson. That’s a long time to hold a grudge over some petty feud, but the sharp memory of him dangling a kiss at graduation, then pulling away at the last second, has fueled many angry fantasies since. Now’s her chance to get even.
Ryan, along with most of her high school class, is back in town for her best friend’s wedding, and June is eager to show the former bully exactly what he missed out on. A lot has changed since their high school days; June is the Southern queen of gourmet donuts now, not to mention one of the most desired bachelorettes in her small town.
What’s she’s not expecting, though, is for Ryan to show up looking like Adonis and touting his own career success as the youngest chef to ever win three Michelin stars. How dare he try to one up her revenge plot? Luckily June never backs down from a challenge…
Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca
Everything about this book excites me! It is a RomCom, set in a small Florida coastal town, there is a coffee shop, oh and the whole ghost situation. This is going to be an immediate purchase for me because I can already tell I am going to love it. The Goodreads ratings are already fabulous and I have heard wonderful things about author Jen DeLuca. Haunted Ever After publishes on August 13th!
Goodreads Synopsis
Small Florida coastal towns often find themselves scrambling for the tourism dollars that the Orlando theme parks leave behind. And within the town limits of Boneyard Key, the residents decided long ago to lean into its ghostliness. Nick Royer, owner of the Hallowed Grounds coffee shop, embraces the ghost tourism that keeps the local economy afloat, as well as his spectral roommate. At least he doesn’t have to run air-conditioning.
Cassie Rutherford possibly overreacted to all her friends getting married and having kids by leaving Orlando and buying a flipped historic cottage in Boneyard Key. Though there’s something unusual with her new home (her laptop won’t charge in any outlets, and the poetry magnets on her fridge definitely didn’t read “WRONG” and “MY HOUSE” when she put them up), she’s charmed by the colorful history surrounding her. And she’s catching a certain vibe from the grumpy coffee shop owner whenever he slips her a free slice of banana bread along with her coffee order.
As Nick takes her on a ghost tour, sharing town gossip that tourists don’t get to hear, and they spend nights side-by-side looking into the former owners of her haunted cottage, their connection solidifies into something very real and enticing. But Cassie’s worried she’s in too deep with this whole (haunted) home ownership thing… and Nick’s afraid to get too close in case Cassie gets scared away for good.
The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord
I have read a couple of Emma Lord’s books now and have enjoyed them so much. So to say I am looking forward to this next book would be an understatement. The Break-Up Pact publishes on August 13th and I am definitely adding it to my TBR! This sounds like it is going to be full of break-ups and fake dating and I couldn’t be more ready! The Break-Up Pact publishes on August 13th as well.
Goodreads Synopsis
Two best friends who haven’t spoken in ten years pretend to date after break-ups with their respective exes go viral, in this delightfully fun and deeply emotional novel.
June and Levi were best friends as teenagers—until the day they weren’t. Now June is struggling to make rent on her beachside tea shop, Levi is living a New York cliché as a disillusioned hedge fund manager and failed novelist, and they’ve barely spoken in years.
But after they both experience public, humiliating break-ups with their exes that spread like wildfire across TikTok rabbit holes and daytime talk shows alike, they accidentally make some juicy gossip of their own—a photo of them together has the internet convinced they’re a couple. With so many people rooting for them, they decide to put aside their rocky past and make a pact to fuel the fire. Pretending to date will help June’s shop get back on its feet and make Levi’s ex realize that she made a mistake. All they have to do is convince the world they’re in love, one swoon-worthy photo opp at a time.
Two viral break-ups. One fake relationship. Five sparkling, heart-pounding dates. June and Levi can definitely pull this off without their hearts getting involved. Because everyone knows fake dating doesn’t come with real feelings. Right?
Bridesmaid Undercover by Meghan Quinn
Next up we have Bridesmaid Undercover by Meghan Quinn. This is book 2 in the Bridesmaid for Hire series and it sounds like such a fun book. I haven’t read the first book yet so I am adding both to my TBR. This sounds like such a fun concept for a book and also sounds pretty funny…which I love! Bridesmaid Undercover publishes on August 20th.
Goodreads Synopsis
Everly Plum is delighted to be heading up the Bridesmaid for Hire program at Magical Moments by Maggie. And when Hardy Hopper, one of their billionaire investors, approaches Everly for help with his friends’ wedding, she’s more than happy to step in. But Hardy has an extra assignment for her: his ex-girlfriend will be the maid of honor opposite his role as best man, and he wants Everly’s help getting her back.
There’s only one problem: Everly may have a tiny crush on the dashing businessman. But despite the way Hardy makes her stomach flutter, she’s determined to prove herself, both as a bridesmaid and as a matchmaker. That is, until she finds her crush turning into real feelings. Not to mention, Hardy can’t help but notice how well he clicks with Everly, and before he knows it, he’s not looking for his ex’s attention anymore.
But even after their simmering attraction finally rises to the surface, they will have to contend with meddling friends, poor timing, and professional boundaries—and the risk that no one might get a second chance after all.
Storybook Ending by Poppy Alexander
Last, but certainly not least, we have Storybook Ending by Poppy Alexander. This book captured me at the cover. There is just something about a quaint English cottage that makes me immediately want to pick up a book. Upon reading the synopsis I knew this would be the book for me. Children’s book author, small cottage, narcissistic cat, brooding blacksmith…I like all of these things! I am SO excited to get my hands on a copy of this book. Storybook Ending publishes on August 20th.
Goodreads Synopsis
From the author of The Littlest Library —a heartwarming novel about a widowed children’s book author who moves into a cottage in the English countryside and finds herself face-to-face with the handsome and brooding blacksmith who lives next door. In her books she can write “happily ever after”—but real life? That’s another matter…
For children’s book author Imogen, an idyllic life in the English countryside seems like the perfect fit for her and her husband. But when tragedy strikes, Imogen is left widowed, and finds herself moving into Storybook Cottage alone with only her monstrously narcissistic cat for company. After discovering she is pregnant, Imogen grows determined to embrace a new start in Middlemass, with its duckpond, cricket matches and village fêtes.
The only thing Imogen can’t seem to shake is her neighbor—a brooding, artisan blacksmith named Zach—who she can’t quite decide is friend or foe. That is until she realizes, thanks to an arcane clause in her deeds, that Zach is not just an artist, but lord of the local manor house. He has the power to take her home and leave her completely broke. Devastatingly—he seems keen to do exactly that. Yet, Imogen finds herself drawn to him nonetheless. And in her darkest hour, Zach may just be the bright spot to save Imogen in more ways than one.
Happy August Reading!
Have you started a TBR for August yet? What books are you the MOST excited about?
I hope you all have a great reading month! Stay tuned for my next blog post… I will be sharing the Mystery/Thriller books that are publishing in August that I am MOST excited for. Some really exciting ones!
Happy Reading!
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